Chapter 59 · The Reclamation Order

"Get your hands off the controls, Evelyn." Kade caught her wrist before she could yank the red lever down.

The relay platform bucked under their boots. Below them, the second rift chewed through the market in bright, broken rings. Stalls folded into nothing. People screamed from the suspended walkways while Crown drones poured fire into the crowd, driving everyone toward the widening tear.

Evelyn twisted against Kade's grip. "Let go."

"If you cut the signal now, the rift collapses on them."

"If I leave it running, it eats the whole city. Pick one terrible option and stop pretending you can save everyone."

His fingers tightened around her wrist. Heat from his palm pushed through her sleeve. His face was close enough that she could feel each sharp breath against her cheek.

"I'm not pretending," he said. "I'm buying you time."

"You bought us thirty seconds. The counter says twelve."

A red display above the console flashed: 00:11.

Kade looked past her at the control spine. Three Crown soldiers were climbing the outer stairs. Their rifles tracked the platform.